A big congratulations goes out to Wilma Combs, our new Gauntlet Champion, who secured victory with her story, “In the Teeth of the Earth.” We’ll be learning more about her and her work in the coming days.

We’d also like to congratulate First Runner-Up Gustavo Bondoni, and Second Runner-Up Nina Shepardson, who survived to the very end with strong entries all tournament long.

In your final Gauntlet story ‘the word’ cannot exist. It must not be found. The concept, on the other hand, should ring as clearly as a bell. It should be fully understood. This word, this concept, in question is entirely up to you.

Your Final Challenge is to write a speculative fiction short story within the next two weeks. We want this story to center upon a concept which you never quite articulate. Remember, they didn’t say the word ‘zombie’ in The Walking Dead.

Our Third Challenge has dropped, and it’s a doozy. “Leaf on the Wind” is asking Gauntleteers to review the prologue and first chapter of a fanfiction penned by bestselling author Steven Brust. It is based upon Firefly, and you can check it out here: “My Own Kind of Freedom.”

That’s the end of the first challenge. Judging has begun, so look for results just a few days from now on Sep 12th. To the 30+ who entered our contest this year, and the 20+ who turned in entries, thank you for participating in the Harlan Ellison Memorial Round, and welcome to the Gauntlet!

You can still be a Spectator, but active competition will have to wait until next year. We have 34 entrants for the 2018 tournament, which is 1 shy of tying the all-time record set in 2015, and nearly double our number from last year. Way to go!